Milford 21, Doherty 7: Casey dumps Doherty

MILFORD The continued maturation of Milford quarterback Brendan Casey didn't bode well for the Doherty football team last night.

Ken Castro/Daily News correspondent

The continued maturation of Milford quarterback Brendan Casey didn't bode well for the Doherty football team last night.

Beset by a pair of rocky outings to begin the season (6 INTs), the Scarlet Hawks junior signal caller - just four games into his career as a starter - offered up his best effort to date, putting his stamp on a 21-7 victory.

Milford running back Tom Kane complimented Casey's performance, scoring two touchdowns, while the Scarlet Hawks defense - led by Manny Lopez (4 sacks) and Nick DiAntonio - held the Highlanders to 121 yards of total offense.

"We've had confidence in him," said Milford coach John Dagnese of Casey's development that appears to be on a fast track. "He's had his share of picks, but we've got to throw with the kid - because he sure can throw the ball. I think, now, he's getting some confidence and that's huge."

Kane provided his ballclub a 7-0 advantage with 6:34 left in the second quarter when he crashed over from 3 yards out, capping an 11-play, 80-yard drive. Kane kept the series alive on a fourth-and-long when he escaped rushers while in punt formation and garnered the required yardage for a first down.

Highlander sophomore Yawin Smallwood put the lone points on the board for the visitors when he scooped up a fumble by Kane at the line of scrimmage and took it 33 yards in to the end zone. But Milford answered the crucial turnover moments later when Casey, operating on third down, lofted a picture-perfect pass to Alex Avery, who had gained separation in the right corner of the end zone, for a 30-yard score.

"Their cornerback was a little tired from playing both ways and special teams, and he (Avery) dropped him and made a great catch," Casey said of the pass play.

Casey completed 6-of-12 passes for 81 yards in the first half. Milford expanded on its seven-point advantage in the third when Casey found Kane for a 29-yard catch-and-run at the outset of the third quarter.

"The first two games, I was a little nervous, and I was going out there just throwing it early and not taking my time making my reads," Casey said. "The past two weeks, the coaches have really helped me and that's what happened tonight."

"It certainly is a turnaround," said Dagnese of his team's last two contests. "That's a good football team, they have a lot of skill players. They were a little undisciplined, but they still scared us to death."

Doherty collected more than 100 yards in penalties in the loss, including four personal fouls.